A coalition of Seattle Black community organizations is mobilizing to oppose reports that Mayor Katie Wilson has asked Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes to resign, stating that the action “would disrupt Seattle’s progress in public safety”, and are urging supporters to rally Thursday morning at Seattle City Hall.
The coalition — which includes the NAACP Seattle Branch, Community Passageways, the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Seattle Clergy, Parents for Student Success, 100 Black Parents, Creative Black Brilliance Braintrust, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Committee and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) — plans to meet with Wilson to express its concerns and urge her not to remove Barnes from his position, if the reports are accurate.
Related Story: Open Letter To Mayor Katie Wilson From The Black Community
According to FOX 13 Seattle, multiple sources reported Wednesday that Wilson asked Barnes to resign. The station reported Barnes canceled scheduled media interviews Wednesday afternoon, attended a silent vigil for victims of the Bite of Seattle shooting and later met with the mayor. As of Wednesday night, the City of Seattle had not publicly confirmed the reported leadership change.
Coalition leaders argue Barnes is being unfairly blamed for communication failures following the mass shooting at the Bite of Seattle.
Barnes was attending the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives’ annual training conference outside Seattle when the shooting occurred and was not present during the city’s initial response. Coalition leaders say that facts alone demonstrates that Barnes should not have be held responsible for decisions regarding the city’s public messaging in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
Media reports indicate a public briefing initially expected around 8:45 p.m. did not begin until approximately 10:45 p.m. According to those reports, officials delayed the briefing while waiting for dignitaries to arrive. Coalition leaders contend the decisions surrounding the city’s public messaging were made within the mayor’s office and that Chief Barnes is being unfairly blamed for actions over which he had no control.
Supporters argue Barnes is being made a scapegoat for broader failures in the city’s crisis communications rather than being evaluated on his leadership of the Seattle Police Department. They also point to his efforts to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and Seattle’s diverse communities since taking office.
Organizers also questioned the timing of the reported decision, noting Seattle is entering Seafair weekend, historically one of the busiest periods of the year for law enforcement and public safety.
Supporters say removing the city’s top law enforcement official days before one of Seattle’s largest annual events would create unnecessary uncertainty within the department and undermine public confidence during a critical public safety weekend.
Coalition leaders are calling on community members, clergy, civic leaders and supporters to gather at Seattle City Hall at 8 a.m. Thursday to protest the reported action and demonstrate their support for Barnes. In addition, coalition representatives plan to meet with Mayor Wilson to express their concerns directly and urge her to reverse any decision to remove the chief.
Neither Mayor Wilson’s office nor the Seattle Police Department had issued an official statement confirming Barnes’ reported departure at the time of publication.
